Preparation and characteristics of conducting polymer-coated multiwalled carbon nanotubes for a gas sensor

Abstract

Conducting polymer-coated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared by template polymerization in order to enhance their gas sensitivity. This investigation of the conducting polymer phases that formed on the surface of the MWCNTs is based on field-emission scanning electron microscopy images. The thermal stability of the conduct-ing polymer-coated MWCNTs was significantly improved by the high thermal stability of MWCNTs. The synergistic effects of the conducting polymer-coated MWCNTs improve the gas-sensing properties. MWCNTs coated with polyaniline uniformly show outstanding improvement in gas sensitivity to NH 3 due to the synergistic combination of efficient adsorp-tion of NH 3 gas and variation in the conduction of electrons.